Arbor Hill Historic District–Ten Broeck Triangle facts for kids

Arbor Hill Historic District– Ten Broeck Triangle
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. Historic district
Rowhouses on Hall Place, 2010
Location in New York Show map of New York Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	Albany, NY
Area	34 acres (14 ha)
Built	1845–1875
Architectural style	Greek Revival, Italianate, Late Victorian
NRHP reference No.	79001564 (original) 84003865 (increase)
Quick facts for kids Significant dates
Added to NRHP	January 25, 1979
Boundary increase	September 29, 1984

The Arbor Hill Historic District–Ten Broeck Triangle is a special area in Albany, New York. It covers seven city blocks in the Arbor Hill neighborhood, just north of downtown. This district is important because it has many old buildings.

In 1979, a part of this area, called the Ten Broeck Triangle, was named a historic district. It was one of the oldest neighborhoods in Albany. A few years later, in 1984, the district grew to its current size. It was then renamed to include the wider Arbor Hill area.

The district's story began with the Ten Broeck Mansion. This large house was built in the late 1700s by a well-known local family. Later, in the mid-1800s, successful businessmen built grand houses along Ten Broeck Avenue. They made their money from trade on the Erie Canal. This area was one of the first neighborhoods to grow north of downtown Albany.

Over time, the neighborhood changed. Wealthier families moved to newer areas like Washington Park. By the 1900s, it became a middle-class area. After the Great Migration, many African American families moved here. The historic buildings faced challenges as the area became less wealthy. However, efforts by people who care about history have started to bring new life to the district. In recent years, Albany's mayor even bought and fixed up a house here to live in!

The district has over 200 buildings that are important to its history. Most are rowhouses and detached houses built between the 1840s and 1870s. The Ten Broeck Mansion is the largest and oldest building. It is also famous enough to be listed on its own. The district also includes two churches, like St. Joseph's Church. These churches show how different groups of people came to live in the area over time.

Exploring the Arbor Hill Historic District

Where is Arbor Hill?

The district is in the southeastern part of Albany's Arbor Hill neighborhood. Its southern point is at Sweet Pilgrim Baptist Church, where Ten Broeck Street meets Clinton Avenue. This is near U.S. Route 9. The district boundary follows the backyards of houses on the east side of Ten Broeck Street. It goes past St. Joseph's Church and Van Rensselaer Park.

The boundary then reaches Livingston Avenue. Here, the Ten Broeck Mansion sits on a large piece of land. This mansion gives its name to the Ten Broeck Triangle, which is the eastern part of the district. The boundary then turns northwest along Livingston Avenue to North Swan Street.

It follows North Swan Street south, including properties on the west side for three blocks. These include Bethany Baptist Church and St. Joseph's Youth Center. Public basketball courts are also in this area. The boundary then turns southeast, following the backyards of houses on First Street. It eventually returns to Clinton Avenue at Ten Broeck Street.

What Does the District Look Like?

This special area covers about 34 acres (about 14 hectares). It includes all of St. Joseph's Terrace and Hall Place. There are 220 historic buildings here, with only two modern ones. About 100 of these are houses, mostly two- or three-story buildings made of wood or brick. They were built between the 1820s and early 1900s. The other buildings are small shops or churches.

The district has some open spaces, like vacant lots and parking lots. There are also planned green areas like Van Rensselaer Park and St. Joseph's Park. The Ten Broeck Mansion has a large property with gardens. Many old trees grow throughout the district.

The land here rises almost 100 feet (30 meters) from the east and south. This shows how the land was shaped by old ravines. These ravines were later filled in to help build the neighborhood.

To the north are newer housing projects from the 1960s and 1970s. To the west are similar neighborhoods with more modern buildings. The Clinton Avenue Historic District to the south has many 19th-century rowhouses. To the east, closer to the Hudson River, are mixed older and newer buildings.

A Look Back in Time

The Arbor Hill area was undeveloped for a long time after Albany became a city. It was seen as a place for future growth. When it finally started to develop after the Revolutionary War, it grew slowly.

After the Erie Canal opened in 1825, development sped up. A cemetery even had to be moved! Most of the buildings you see today were built in the mid-to-late 1800s. This was when the district was one of Albany's most popular places to live. Later, as wealthy families moved to the suburbs, the area became more crowded. By the 1920s, it became known for its growing African American population.

Because of its changing population, the neighborhood faced challenges in the 1900s. But in the 1970s, local groups started working to save and restore the historic buildings.

Early Days: Before 1797

Albany was first settled by the Dutch in the early 1600s. It became a city in 1686. For many years, the city was small, surrounded by a stockade (a fence of stakes). The area now known as Arbor Hill was outside these limits.

After the French and Indian War ended in 1763, it was safer for the city to grow. Stephen van Rensselaer II, who owned the land, had it surveyed. He planned streets and building lots. He also set aside land for a cemetery, which is now Van Rensselaer Park.

Building Boom: 1797–1844

Building was delayed by the Revolutionary War. But by the late 1700s, some houses appeared. The most important was the Ten Broeck Mansion. Abraham Ten Broeck, a famous local leader, built it in 1797. He had been a general in the war and Albany's mayor.

He called his mansion "Prospect" because of its great views of the Hudson River. After he died, new owners bought the mansion. They added Greek Revival features to it.

The city finally expanded north after the Erie Canal opened in 1825. Many new people came to Albany for work. They looked for homes north of downtown. Some found the mansion neighborhood appealing. A few early houses from this time, like 10 Ten Broeck Place, still stand today.

Growing Pains: 1845–1899

The old cemetery became a park. In 1848, a banker named Thomas Worth Olcott bought the Ten Broeck Mansion. He officially renamed it Arbor Hill. He and his family made it even bigger.

Many new houses were built in the blocks to the west. For example, 23 and 25 Second Street were built in the late 1840s. These houses show a mix of Greek Revival and Italianate styles.

The Italianate style became very popular in the 1850s. A third of the houses in the Ten Broeck Triangle were built then. Streets like North Hawk and Hall were almost completely built during this time.

In 1855, St. Joseph's Church was built. It served the growing Irish immigrant population. Many Irish immigrants lived nearby and worked along the river. The church was designed by Patrick Keely, a famous architect.

By 1870, most of the district was developed. Ten Broeck Street was even called "Millionaire's Row" because of its fancy houses. Many were built by lumber merchants. Another church, Sweet Pilgrim Baptist, was built in 1876. It became a landmark at the district's southern entrance.

In the 1880s, a new street, St. Joseph's Terrace, was added. Houses built there in the 1890s kept the same style. This showed the area was still a desirable place to live. The neighborhood was home to Michael N. Nolan, an Irish immigrant who became mayor and a U.S. Representative.

New buildings often showed the popular styles of the time. For example, 96 North Swan Street was built in the Italianate style in 1885. St. Joseph's also built a brick rectory (a house for a priest) in 1892 in the Romanesque Revival style.

New Century, New Changes: 1900–1914

In the early 1900s, there wasn't much empty land left for new houses. A few new ones were built, fitting in with the older styles. For example, 43 and 45 Ten Broeck Street were built with brick and marble trim around 1900.

Wealthy families started moving to newer neighborhoods in Albany's western parts. These areas offered bigger houses and yards. The houses they left behind were often rented out or divided into smaller apartments. This made the Ten Broeck Triangle less exclusive.

This increase in people living in the area led to new construction. St. Joseph's Church built a large four-story school building in 1905. It was the biggest building in the western part of the district. The church itself got a new spire in 1910.

The trend of more people living in the area continued. Two apartment buildings were built on St. Joseph's Terrace in 1914. These were the first buildings designed specifically for multiple families. They are among the newest historic buildings in the district.

Challenges and Renewal: 1915–Present

During the Great Migration in the 1920s, many African Americans moved to Albany from the South. Many settled in Arbor Hill. It became a popular area for newcomers. By 1922, many important African-American groups and churches were in Arbor Hill.

In 1948, the Ten Broeck Mansion was given to the Albany County Historical Association. They turned it into a historic house museum. In 1971, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The neighborhood faced big challenges in the 1960s. Arbor Hill was considered one of the toughest areas in Albany. Sweet Pilgrim Church's steeple was removed. Government projects also tore down some houses north of Livingston Avenue. These were replaced with modern, affordable housing.

In 1975, local residents formed a group to improve the neighborhood. They lived in the old townhouses and had often fixed them up themselves. They believed that bringing new life to the area would help. They worked with people who wanted to save history to get the Ten Broeck Triangle recognized as a historic district. This happened in 1979.

The city helped by selling foreclosed houses on Ten Broeck Street. Buyers could get grants and loans to fix them up. This program helped bring new residents and restore homes.

Later, in 1984, the district was expanded. More historic houses were found in the blocks between the Ten Broeck Triangle and North Swan. The district almost tripled in size and doubled its historic buildings to 220. It was renamed to include the wider Arbor Hill area.

St. Joseph's Church faced financial problems in the late 1900s. It was even used in the 1987 film Ironweed. But it closed in 1994. Many groups have tried to save and restore it since then. The city even took ownership to help save it from collapse.

Historic Albany also helped save 41 Ten Broeck Street. After a court stopped its demolition, only the front part of the building remains. Historic Albany is working to find someone to rebuild and restore it.

Local groups continue to work on housing issues and help residents get grants. Some groups have even renovated old buildings into affordable housing. By the 1990s, the Ten Broeck Triangle was mostly restored. It became home to many young professionals and families.

In 2002, a local artist painted a mural on a house at North Swan and Livingston. This project aimed to improve the area and involved local youth. In the 2010s, St. Joseph's Academy was turned into the Albany Barn. This space offers living and working areas for artists. In 2018, Albany's mayor and her husband bought and restored a house in the district. They moved in late 2019.

Important Historic Buildings

Almost all of the 220 buildings in the district are important to its history. Most are houses. The Ten Broeck Mansion is so important that it is listed on the National Register by itself. Here are some other special buildings in the district:

Houses

• 2–38 First Street: These brick rowhouses are considered one of the most beautiful groups of mid-19th century homes in Albany. Many have fancy doorways. They were all built in the late 1850s and early 1860s.
• 51 and 511⁄2 First Street: These two brick houses were built in 1885 in the Romanesque Revival style. They have detailed decorations like terra cotta and stained glass windows.
• 55 and 57 First Street: These houses are among the oldest on the street, built before 1846. They show a mix of Greek Revival and Italianate styles.
• 65 and 67 First Street: These wooden houses from the late 1880s have unique decorations, including curved brackets and unusual railings.
• 69 and 71 First Street: These two brick houses share similar designs, with decorative cornices.
• 2–6 Hall Place: This row of brick houses with two-story wooden porches dates to 1859. Some of these houses had mansard roofs added later, in the Second Empire style.
• 86–90 North Hawk Street: These three attached brick houses are some of the few in the Gothic Revival style in the district. They were built in the late 1850s.
• 36 North Swan Street: This three-story brick building from the 1860s has shops on the first floor and homes above. It features a decorative cornice and special glass on the storefront.
• 50 North Swan Street: This two-story wooden building from 1844 is one of the oldest on the street. It also has shops and homes.
• 43 and 53 North Swan Street: These two wooden buildings from 1845 are the oldest mixed-use (commercial and residential) buildings in the district.
• 94 North Swan Street: This two-story wooden house from the late 1850s has a unique gable in the middle of its roofline.
• 12 and 14 Second Street: These two brick rowhouses are typical of Albany's style. They have stone steps, tall windows, and detailed cornices. They were built in the early 1870s.
• 20 Second Street: This two-story wooden house is one of the few with a side gable roof in the district. It was built before 1841.
• 23 and 25 Second Street: These two brick houses from the late 1840s show a mix of Greek Revival and Italianate styles.
• 31 Second Street: This wooden house from the early 1840s is considered one of the best Greek Revival homes in the district.
• 32 Second Street: This brick house, built before 1841, also shows Greek Revival style with decorative columns and unique window screens.
• 44 Second Street: This two-story wooden house has an unusual design with randomly placed windows and a bell-shaped second floor. It was likely built in the 1840s.
• 53 Second Street: This brick building, built around 1844, is the only mixed-use building not on North Swan. It has classic Greek Revival features.
• 3 St. Joseph's Terrace: This one-story brick house, built in 1914, has a Spanish-style roof. It's one of the last houses built during the district's important period.
• 4 and 5 St. Joseph's Terrace: These two Romanesque Revival townhouses from the 1890s have rounded bays and arched doorways. Number 4 still has many original details like wooden doors and stained-glass.
• 10 Ten Broeck Place: This house from the 1830s is the oldest house in the district after the mansion. It has a Greek Revival entrance.
• 16 and 18 Ten Broeck Place: These two Italianate brick houses from the 1870s have decorative window hoods and cornices.
• 30 Ten Broeck Place: This two-story house, built around 1842, has Gothic Revival elements on its doorway.
• 41 Ten Broeck Street: This large brick house, built in 1845, was one of the first mansion-style homes on the street. Only its front wall remains after a partial demolition.
• 43–45 Ten Broeck Street: These two brick houses, built around 1900, have marble trim and arched doorways.
• 49 Ten Broeck Street: This three-story brick house from 1859 has a grand entrance with columns.
• 51 Ten Broeck Street: This two-story brick house, built in 1842, is the earliest dated house on the street.
• 55 Ten Broeck Street: This two-story brick house from the 1860s has columns next to its entrance, a feature not common in the area.
• 57–59 Ten Broeck Street: These two three-story brick rowhouses from 1873 have an unusual tall and narrow shape.
• 93 Ten Broeck Street: This two-and-a-half-story brick Italianate house has detailed bay windows and ironwork.
• 105 Ten Broeck Street: This two-and-a-half-story brick house has a unique polygonal shape and an iron mansard roof. It was likely built in 1873.

Other Buildings

• King Building, 27–29 North Swan Street: This two-story brick building from the 1850s was originally a duplex. It has a special archway in the back that led to the Ten Broeck Mansion.
• St. Joseph's Church, Ten Broeck Street: Designed by Irish American architect Patrick Keely, this Gothic Revival church was finished in 1860. It has been a central part of the district ever since. Efforts are ongoing to restore it.
• St. Joseph's Church Rectory, 12 St. Joseph's Terrace: Built in 1892, this three-story brick house for the priest is in the Romanesque Revival style.
• St. Joseph's Academy, 70 North Swan Street: This four-story brick building from 1905 was once a school. After renovations in the 2010s, it is now the Albany Barn, a place for artists to live and work.
• St. Joseph's Terrace Apartment Buildings, 7–8 and 9–10 St. Joseph's Terrace: These two brick buildings, built in 1914, are the only buildings in the district designed specifically as apartments.
• Sweet Pilgrim Baptist Church, 4 Ten Broeck Street: This brick church from 1877 is an important landmark at the southern entrance of the district. Its steeple was removed in the 1960s.

Saving History: Preservation Efforts

In 2003, city planners asked for ideas from residents to improve Arbor Hill. They looked at how the historic district could help the neighborhood's future. The Ten Broeck Triangle was noted as an area where property values were strong. The report said that if neighborhood problems were solved, property values in the Triangle would go up quickly.

Some ideas for the district included:

• Finding new uses for large buildings like St. Joseph's School.
• Creating a tree-lined path from North Swan to the Ten Broeck Mansion.
• Improving sidewalks along North Swan.
• Finding good uses for St. Joseph's Church that would not harm its history.
• Making Ten Broeck Street more friendly for people walking.

In 2005, the city reported progress. A study was done on the former St. Joseph's School. Historic Albany, a preservation group, worked to save St. Joseph's Church. They also organized walking tours of the Ten Broeck Triangle.

In 2010, the city and the advisory committee won an award for their work. Four years later, in 2014, the entire Arbor Hill neighborhood was named one of America's 10 great neighborhoods. This shows how important and special this historic area is.

Images for kids

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  Map showing district boundary in red

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  East (front) elevation of Ten Broeck Mansion, 2009

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  North end of Ten Broeck Street, 2010

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  Sweet Pilgrim Baptist Church

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  St. Joseph's School building, 2012

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  Looking down at Ten Broeck Street and St. Joseph Church covered in snow, 2018

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  41 Ten Broeck Street, 2012

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  First Street

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  Entrance to 49 Ten Broeck St.

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  57-59 Ten Broeck St.

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  St. Joseph's Church